Dear Ones:
If ever there was a story, an illustration, and declared necessity of learning the lesson of not looking back, it was in the life of Joseph. We find evidence of this all through his time as a slave, having been sold as such into Egypt, but particularly after he became “prime minister” of Egypt. Scripture tells us concerning his sons, that “…Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: ‘For God, ‘ he said, ‘hath made me FORGET all my toil, and all my father’s house.'” (Gen. 41:51) But he does not stop there. He goes on to write, that “…the name of the second (son) he called Ephraim: ‘For God hath caused me to be FRUITFUL in the land of my affliction.'” (v.52) Here is a man, the favorite son of his father Jacob, who at the age of seventeen, being despised by his brothers, was uprooted from his family, culture, and language group, to be plunged into a society completely foreign, and dominant. For thirteen years, he would know what it was to be “lost” to all that he knew, or had known and loved. And during those years, he would always be a slave, though at times living with great success, perhaps in the hope of returning to his family. It was not to be. At the pinnacle of hope and “blessing,” he would be cast into a prison, there to again learn the lesson of “hope.” But this time, he would be brought to the very end of every resource with regard to his past. God would not allow him to go back, only to go forward. It would be his family, who one day, would come to him.
Now, why is it that God would allow such suffering, loneliness, and dejection? It was because, as Michael Angelo declared, gazing upon a very odd piece of marble which he chose to sculpt: “I see an angel inside, and I MUST get him out.” And so, though Joseph at one time had a coat of many colors, the favorite son of his father, he was in actuality an unusual, though unique, piece of marble, and God by His wisdom and ways was determined “to get the angel out.” How did He do this? By teaching Joseph to look forward, never behind, wholly trusting the God who revealed Himself to him, who was with him in the present, who never forsook him.
It is interesting to note, that when Joseph became Prime Minister, there is no mention that he tried to return to his family. It seems that he had indeed “accepted the circumstances” of God’s choice. He is now in a place of waiting wholly on God…and because of this, he is a free man, a man to whom the Lord is free to reveal Himself, His ways, and His objectives.
There was one other issue in Joseph’s life, which would cause him to look back. It was unforgiveness for his brothers who had sold him into slavery. If he does not forgive, then he will never be free. But freedom he chose. We see this at the moment when he revealed his identity to his brothers: “I am Joseph, doth my father live? …I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send be before you to preserve life.” (Gen. 45:3,5) Joseph could have had his brothers destroyed…such was his power and authority, But he did not. He was a free man from the injustices, and injuries, of the past. He was looking forward with regard to God’s purpose and plan.
It was the Apostle Paul who said, “…Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS.” (Phil. 3:8) He goes on to say, “…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (v.13-14) And how do we know that he had made great progress in this endeavor? Because, he could say, as Joseph most certainly learned, “…I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.” Here is a free man, a fulfilled man, a man who is not dominated by his circumstances, but is pressing on in the present moment, and not looking back. May God give us grace, as we see the Lord Jesus in Scripture going forward in this manner, “…to follow in His train.”
Love, Dad